Amazon Fourth of July Style

Whether you’re having a BBQ, attending a block party, or hitting the beach, one thing’s for sure- Fourth of July is on a Friday this year, which means you can do all 3 that weekend! Don’t settle for the same old jean shorts and a tee- step it up a notch with one of these cute and casual dresses and a few accessories to make the red, white, and blue more interesting!

1. Red Dress- be a little bit glam and a little bit comfy with this cute red maxi dress.The rick rack detailing adds a playful touch, while the length means you’ll be comfortable all day long.

2. White Headband- I love to add a headband to every outfit to zhush it up a little and this one is no exception. While the color is simple, it has pretty details such as beading and texture to ensure this white headband is anything but boring.

3. Blue Coin Purse- stars and stripes are the name of the game, and this purse delivers. The shape is so fun, while the golden stars help to make any casual outfit just a little bit fancier.

4. Blue Tumbler- I’m a sucker for popsicles (no pun intended? right?) and this tumbler is perfect for those collectors of water bottles (iykyk). The color is so vibrant and you can use this all summer long. Perfect for staying hydrated!

5. Blue Slide Sandals- To add a comfy but classy touch to your outfits, add these cute blue slide sandals. They are perfect for running after the kids or taking the hubs to dinner. They’re so versatile and would be perfect for vacation at a resort!

6. White Puff Sleeve Dress- I love puff sleeve dresses- they’re so fun and girly while being playful. This dress has fun detailing on the skirt, while the ribbed chest area helps to accentuate the “girls” if you know what I mean. 

7. Blue Baseball Cap- The summer always equals sun, and this hat will help you to see the kids without holding your hands up over your eyes. The bow adds such a cute touch to a classic style. I have this cap in white and pink and it’s my favorite one!

8. Red Tote- Carry all the summer essentials with a cute and perfectly summery strawberry pattern. It has pockets which will help to keep you organized. It’s so perfect for carrying a book to the park while your kids play!

9. Red Sneakers- I just love these sneakers. The style is so classic while the color will add a pop to any outfit. I love a good sneaker and dress combo for staying comfy while wandering the zoo while still looking super cute. 

10. Blue Tiered Dress- This dress is perfect for a fancier BBQ or a clambake. The tiers at the bottom make it so whimsical while still being classic. The strapless style means no strappy tan lines, and the fitted bodice means it’ll stay up all day long.

11. Red Hoops- Earrings are the perfect pop to any outfit and these are too fun with the big rattan balls. They are lightweight and really pack a punch. They come in so many colors, perfect for wearing all summer long.

12. Rattan Purse- I think I need this purse. Truly. It screams summer and sophistication. The silhouette is classic while the details add a fun touch. It’s perfect for everyday wear, or a special date night, while still being affordable.

13. Red Bow- Wear this in your hair or on your purse to add a pop of color and femininity to your Fourth of July outfit. The oversized bow makes such a statement.

14. Floral Pillow Cover- This is a bit random for this particular set, but I had to include it because it’s so cute. Add these to your couch or place them outside for a festive addition to your BBQ.

So there you have it! Some cute dresses and accessories that you can use all summer long. Mix and match some of these items with pieces you own, and be the best dressed this summer!

My Travel Essentials

When it comes to traveling, I like to keep things as simple and organized as possible. There is nothing I hate more than being unable to find what I packed, being unable to carry everything I need to bring, and not knowing where to put things. Last year, I decided to update my travel essentials to make my trips so much easier and it was worth every penny. These are items you can use for every single trip, year after year. I felt so organized that I knew I had to share everything with you just as travel season is upon us again.

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Packing Cubes- I recently upgraded to these packing cubes and for the first time ever, my bag actually had some space! I used 3 cubes plus my beauty bag, and I had room to spare. It was pretty amazing. I also love that they’re neutral colored, and you can always use iron-on vinyl to label them. These come with so many sizes, including a shoe bag, a hanging toiletry bag, and a small pouch.

Clear Pouches- These are essential for air travel, since you need a quart size bag for liquids. I find that this one is a little bit more structured and reusable, which I prefer. It’s perfect for placing your phone inside at the beach to prevent sand, or for carrying snacks as you go.

Mini Bottles- I love these silicon bottles because you can get every last drop out of them, which I didn’t find to be true with the plastic bottles I was using before. Plus, they’re reusable which is perfect for avid travelers, and way more economical than purchasing travel size containers of shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, etc.

Sunglasses Case- I purchased these soft sunglasses cases after I scratched my husband’s glasses by placing them in my bag unprotected at Disney World. Whoops! This time, I went prepared and had this soft case, which takes up almost no space and kept my glasses safe for the whole trip.

Travel Backpack- This is probably my favorite travel update that I made, and I highly recommend this backpack to anyone that commutes or flies! It held so much stuff- my laptop, charger, water bottle, purse, sweater, a blanket scarf for the flight. You name it, I had it in there and it was perfect. Plus, it has a strap in the back which connects to your luggage handle for easy pulling without it falling off. And, you can connect your portable battery to charge on the go.

Portable Battery Pack- There can never be enough power when you’re on the go, snapping pics and texting family back home. I like to carry this portable battery with me. It’s not the lightest but it does hold a lot of charge, which is prefect for charging multiple devices. I bought this when we went to Disney, and it helped me charge my phone while waiting on rides with bored kiddos.

Beauty Pouch- After years of using this hanging toiletries organizer, I recently switched to a zippered pouch that opens up. It holds a lot and really doesn’t take up much space, which I can’t say for my previous toiletry bag!

Jewelry Pouches- My prior approach to traveling with jewelry was wrapping them in tissues and placing them in my bag. Not the best approach- they could be mistaken for ... you know, snots.. and end up thrown away. This time, I got some cute little pouches to hold my earrings. The pouch is faux suede with a clear window so that you can see what’s inside. The pack comes with 6 which is perfect for a short trip.

Mini Hair Brush- I found this brush to be the perfect size and the open style means it won’t get full of hair and gross.

Laptop Case- I recently upgraded my laptop to a MacBook Air 11 inch, which was way smaller than my old 15 inch. So, I needed a better case that would offer better protection. I love how classy this one looks, plus it comes with a small pouch for your charger. I used it to carry my camera, which I love to bring when I travel!

Mirrorless Camera- Mirrorless cameras are great because you have all the perks of a fancy DSLR but the “see it as it will shoot” viewfinder you might remember from typical digital cameras. This means that you can see exactly what the shot will look like as you shoot it, in real time. It has a vari-angle touchscreen that shows your images and lets you “click” the focus point. I have the older model of this camera, and bring it on all my trips. PS- also purchase an extra battery to ensure you’re always fully charged up!

Memory Cards- You can never have too many memory cards in my opinion. I like to use 32 GB cards because it holds just enough photos without getting confusing. And, I like to keep 2 or 3 in my travel bag to ensure I have enough memory for the entire trip.

Toothbrush Covers- This is a silly little one, but no one wants a dirty toothbrush so it’s a necessity. I purchased this 4-pack and had enough for the whole family. Nothing much to say about this, but it stayed clipped to my toothbrush and didn't take up a lot of space which is all you can ask for.

Sunglasses- These sunglasses are great. They’re strong but affordable, making them perfect for travel if you don’t want to ruin/lose fancy designer sunglasses you might own. I use these everyday in my car and they are awesome. They’re polarized so you can actually see the world, and the lens color isn’t too crazy.

And there you have it! My top picks for travel to keep you organized while still looking really good. We’re going on a trip in late July and I’m soooo excited to pack up my stuff and go! We’ll be hitting the water parks, so I’m going to have another list with my Water Park Essentials coming soon, along with some other lists of my fave items! Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see all the newest posts.

My Party Essentials

I’ve thrown a lot of parties over the years, so I’ve got all the essentials. Here are some of my favorite items for parties.

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Cake Stands- I personally like white cake stands since they match any holiday, but these come in so many cute colors! The pink and mint green ones are calling my name.

Sequin Tablecloths- I have these in rose gold and silver, and I can’t tell you how many times they have elevated my event. They wash pretty well, although lots of sequins end up in the wash. But, they still look great after 8 years.

Sequin Runners- These are perfect for placing on party tables, on a craft table, or even on a console. I’ve also draped them on my fireplace! I also recently used a cheesecloth runner for Thanksgiving, which looked so nice.

Serving Platters- While my husband is the chef of the family, I can recommend a nice set of white porcelain serving platters. I love having different sizes but within a single set so that they can stack in my cabinets and drawers.

Balloon Stands- These are perfect for balloon decor and centerpieces without the helium.

Balloon Inflator- I borrowed this from a friend and it saved me! In the past I have used a handheld pump as well as a mattress inflator, neither of which I recommend when this is an option!

Baskets- I use these for all kinds of things, including holding favors, corralling cards, and displaying some party decor.

Garlands- I personally love a fringe tassel garland! These are so easy to make and can be used over and over.

Sequin Backdrops- These are great for placing behind a party table to make it fancier. I also love a nice tablecloth fringe garland, which can be super colorful!

Backdrop Stand- I use this style for my photography backdrops, but it works perfectly for parties. You can also go with a gold arch style, which would be pretty with a cover.

Painting Supplies- I often do an activity at my parties, and I love using these white aprons for kids along with a simple painting set and acrylic paints. Helpful hint- if you wipe off the extra paint with a napkin, it makes it way easier to wash the palettes!

Paper Fans- I also use these over and over again! I use a paperclip to hold them together, then fold them up after the party so it’s ready for the next use.

Cake Topper- I have a Happy Birthday cake topper that I use for all my parties. It’s economical and eco-friendly. A win-win!

Storage Boxes- I store all these supplies in clear plastic bins or clear bags. I can see what I need, and my supplies stay safe from the elements.

Disco Ball- No party is complete without a disco ball. I have mine permanently hanging in my living room. I just love disco balls!

Cricut- Cricuts are perfect for personalizing elements. I’ve used them to create banners with felt and glitter paper; Cut iron-ons for favor bags; Cut vinyl for making signs; Cutting glitter paper for cake toppers; and soooo much more. The smallest one, The Joy, is great for vinyl, making cards, and stores away easily.

Circle Cutters- I just got one of these, but I’m so excited to use them when cutting my circle cupcake toppers from my shop!

Hailey's Faves: Best Books for a One-Year Old

Ok mommas, you know the drill- babies need bedtime stories and you need something that doesn’t bore you to tears after reading it 3,645 times. A lot of books you end up getting at your baby shower are way too long to keep baby’s attention. Or, maybe you’re just looking for something new that your toddler will love and hopefully won’t make YOU fall asleep while reading. Either way, I’ve got you covered! After 16 months of books, I’ve found a few that Hailey loves to read over and over again- and, I think your little guy or girl will love it too!

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These are all the books I practically have memorized but still love to read anyway. I’ve also shared more about them, including why I like them so much! They're in color order, because we all know I love a good rainbow to organize things.

1. Mommies are Amazing This book is filled with cats and their kittens and talks about all the amazing things mom can do! We are a cat-loving family, so this is one of our faves. There’s also a dad version that features dogs, if you prefer!

2. My Mom is Magical Another fave! Personally, I love all the amazing drawings in this book. The words are different than the typical book, featuring phrases like my mom is “sillier than a band of bananas” with matching drawings that are equally as silly and elaborate. Again, there’s also a dad version called My Dad Is Amazing which is equally adorable and funny, but Hailey prefers the mom version.

3. Toes, Ears & Nose! A Lift the Flap Book This is a newer book that we purchased using a gift card from Hailey’s first bday party, but it’s quickly become a favorite for her. She loves moving the flaps to see what’s behind! There is a whole collection of books in this series, so try the affordable box set to get more bang for your buck- and fun for your baby!

4. Where’s Boo? Although this is a Halloween book, it’s one of Hailey’s faves. She loves to “knock” on the door to reveal the final page. I just got her the Valentine version too, so hopefully we can keep the fun going year round! I like that this book is a quick read, but also love seeing her “knock” for Boo at the end.

5. Feminist Baby We got this book as a gift for my baby shower, and it’s really fun! Hailey loves the baby in the book, since she’s on most of the pages. Personally I find the words and phrases funny and I like the message behind them. Hailey also loves the sequel Feminist Baby Finds Her Voice. Her favorite page is “Feminist Baby says ‘ba’ for her bottle” and she always says “ba” as soon as she sees it! There’s also a boy version, but I think the other two are fairly gender neutral even though feminist baby is a girl.

6. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? This story itself isn’t the most interesting for me. However, the sliders make it really fun for baby. I remember when Hailey was really small, she figured it out and it made me want to cry with pride. It makes up for the fact that the story itself is insanely repetitive. Also, she likes to kiss the teacher and students sometimes which is pretty cute. Plus, it’s a classic!

7. The Wonderful Things You’ll Be I love the amazing pictures in this book. The message is really sweet and it has a foldout that Hailey loves to look at! Plus, it’ll grow with your baby as they get older.

8. A Parade of Animals This was one of Hailey’s favorite books, although she seems to have outgrown it a bit at this point. But, it covers a bunch of animals plus counting so I figure she’ll get back into it soon!

9. Alphaprints ABC This book is pretty cool because it has textured animals made with fingerprints! I like to feel the textured book (I can’t be the only one!) and Hailey likes to point at all the misc materials that are used to make the animals.

10. Disney Bunnies All Ears This book isn’t particularly interesting, but it has moveable ears. The best part is that Hailey figured out how to move the ears and was able to match the story on her own! She likes it because it’s interactive and essentially a stuffed animal.

11. Good Night, Little One This book is short and sweet, and teaches your baby all their various body parts (and animals) through good night kisses. I like to touch the parts of her that the book references (good night nose, good night head) and I also teach her about the animals. She now makes monkey noises when we get to the monkey and gorilla pages! There are some other similar books by the same author, like this one and this one.

12. My First Book of Things To Learn Although Hailey doesn't actually interact with the book the way it’s meant to (it’s kind of a matching game in a book) she does enjoy all the pictures. There’s different sections, like matching animals to their sounds and baby animals to their parents. It’s definitely something that will grow with her, although right now it’s more of just a picture book!

I don’t know when my little baby became a big girl, but here we are. These pictures almost look like picture day pictures! The kind you’d get in school with a fake background of books, haha. She loves to pull them out and read them, so I’m glad she has so many that she can grab and look at! You can find more details about her room and how I organized her nursery here.

These are some of my favorite books (and Hailey’s!) but I’m always looking for new suggestions! What books are a favorite in your household? Let me know in the comments below!

The Ultimate Amazon Prime Gift Guide

It seems like everyone’s had their Christmas shopping done for months now, but I’ve always been a last minute shopper! Those people rushing through the stores 2 days before Christmas, when they’re the most crowded? Yep, that was me! Since starting my own business and becoming a mom, I don’t have the time (or patience!) to try to find parking in a crowded mall and battle the other shoppers for the best deal. Not when I can have everything delivered to my door via Amazon Prime! 

I’ve got your ultimate, last minute amazon prime gift guide. From your travel-loving sister to your elegant MIL all the way to your pup, I’ve got gifts that are as adorable as they are affordable. And the best part is that they’re all available through Amazon Prime! So, grab a tea and get comfy. You’re about to finish your Christmas shopping early this year. 

*This post contains affiliate links.

Gifts for Pet Lovers

1. Dog Lovers T-shirt

2. Dalmation Rain Boots

3. Cat Bottle Opener

4. Daschund Slippers

5. Cat Necklace (so sweet!)

6. Dog Bone Canister (I want this SO BAD)

Gifts for Pets

7. Laser toy for cats (my cats would go nuts for this!)

8. Pineapple Chew Toy

9. Cat Bed

10. Gorilla Dog Chew Toy

11. Dog Treats

12. Pet Camera and Treat Thrower (Perfect for keeping an eye while you’re away!)

13. Fluffy Pet Bed

14. Toy Basket (My dog loves going in and finding her toys!)

Gifts for on the go

1. Carry On Cocktails Kit (Because traveling is rough for everyone)

2. AirBNB Gift Card

3. 3-in-1 Scratch off Map

4. Travel Mug

5. Foldable Travel Hangers (perfect for the overpacker- like me!)

6. Laptop Bag

7. Bag Tag with Tracker

8. Chapstick Holder Keychain (keep that Chapstick handy in the winter months!)

9. Poppin Retractable Pens

10. Foldable Silicon Straws with Case (save the turtles!)

11. Striped Tote Bag

12. Pineapple Portable Phone Charger

13. Flower Mirror

14. Sleep Mask

Gifts for Coffee & Tea Lovers

1. French Press Coffee Maker

2. Electric Tea Kettle

3. Re-usable K-Cups (better for the environment and SO pretty)

Fun to Open 

4. Striped Ice Bucket (I want this!)

5. Bookends

6. Daily Calendar

7. Pizza Socks Box (perfect for Pizza lovers and silly Brother in Laws!)

8. Golden Girls Monopoly

Christmas Fun

9. Cactus Cup

10. Reindeer Antlers Headband (I have these- so cute!)

11. Warm & Cozy Mug

12. Santa Sunglasses Mug (Xmas mugs make hot cocoa better)

13. Cozy Blanket

14. Reindeer Thermos (take your Christmas spirit on the go)

Gifts for Dad

1. Sarcastic Mug

2. Wireless Headphones

3. Globe Whiskey Decanter

4. Golf Ball Cup

5. Car Vacuum (also great for mom & grandpa!)

6. Puntastic Dad Jokes

Gifts for Mom

7. Silky PJ set (treat mom! Perfect for date nights at home with dad)

8. Book Tote Bag

9. Mom Mug

10. 12 Month Planner

11. Mom Life Coloring Book

12. Revlon One Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer (my favorite!)

Stocking Stuffers

1. Dino Necklace

2. Unicorn Mug

3. Keychain Screwdriver Tools (perfect for anyone handy!)

4. Starbucks USB Phone Charger

5. Beard Balm

6. Phone Charger Coil Cord (the cutest retro charger!)

7. Rainbow Pens

8. Pumice Stone Foot Scrubber

9. Toddler Snack Cup (Hailey LOVES hers!)

10. Pom Pom Tassel Keychain

11. Rainbow De-Stress Ball

12. Baby Babble & Rattle Microphone (Another of Hailey’s faves!)

13. Blue Light Glasses (perfect for anyone that works on a computer long hours)

14. Rainbow Work Hard, Play Hard Pouch

Baby & Kids Gifts

1. 3-in-1 Unicorn Scooter (Hailey’s Fave!)

2. Doctor Kit (on Hailey’s wish list!)

3. Gratitude Journal

4. Letter, Numbers & Shapes Puzzle (kids love puzzles!)

5. University Board Books Set: Science

6. Digital Camera

7. Pretend Play Tea Set (Hailey is obsessed with this!)

8. Soft Rattle Set

9. Avocado Guitar

10. Baby Einstein Piano (Another fave, and so pretty!)

11. The Wonderful Things You’ll Be Book (We love to read this together!)

12. Fox Block Walker

Grandma

1. Neck Massager

2. Recipe Book (grandma can save all her family recipes in one place!)

3. Crockpot

4. Shawl

5. Digital Photo Frame (fill it with pics of the kids!)

6. Grandma & Me Aprons

Grandpa

7. Whiskey Decanter with Antique Ship

8. Picnic Wine Set (perfect for dates with grandma!)

9. BBQ Tools Set

10. Kindle (also great for grandma!)

11. Fondue Maker Set

12. Golf Ball Shaped Whiskey Chillers (add a bottle of his fave whiskey and he’ll love it!)

I hope this list was helpful so you can find a little something for everyone on your list!